The Abi Joseph @Combe Haven

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Look, I’ve stayed at plenty of places around Hastings over the years, but The Abi Joseph @Combe Haven is honestly something different entirely. When you first pull up to Harley Shute Road – which, by the way, is tucked away enough that you’ll probably miss the turn like I did – you’re not immediately sure what you’re looking at. It’s not trying to be a grand hotel or a quaint B&B, it’s just… well, it’s sort of confidently doing its own thing.

The whole vibe here is refreshingly unpretentious, which I mean as the highest compliment. You know how some boutique places try so hard to be quirky that it feels forced? This isn’t that. The owners have actually created something that feels like staying at the home of a friend who happens to have really good taste and knows how to make you comfortable. The rooms have this lived-in elegance – proper linens that smell like they’ve been hung outside to dry, interesting art that looks like it was chosen because someone actually liked it, not because it matched a theme. And honestly, after a day of dealing with the chaos of Hastings seafront (especially if you’re there during Old Town Carnival season), coming back to this quiet pocket feels like exhaling.

What really gets me is the attention to details that actually matter. The coffee situation is sorted – none of that instant stuff you get at chain places. The parking is straightforward, which anyone who’s tried to find a spot near the Old Town will appreciate. And the breakfast… well, let’s just say they’re not just reheating frozen croissants. You can tell they’ve thought about what travelers actually need versus what looks good in photos. The Wi-Fi works properly throughout (tested it from the garden), the shower pressure is excellent, and the beds are the kind where you actually sleep through the night instead of waking up with a crick in your neck. It’s those little things that make you realize why this place has a 9.2 rating – people aren’t just being polite, they’re genuinely impressed by somewhere that gets the fundamentals right while still feeling special. If you’re the type who’d rather discover a place that locals quietly recommend than stay somewhere that’s all over Instagram, you’ll probably love it here.